Ɛpsilon

To W. E. Darwin   [before 16 September 1880]1

[Down.]

My dear W.

The Indian-rubber bands, which you got for me, have done my wrist a great deal of good, but it is not as strong as it was, so that I wish to continue wearing them for some months more.—2 I have only one left, for after a time they burst in an odd manner.— Will you therefore send me by Post 4 or 6 more— I forget price, but will endeavour to ask you what I owe you, as you are such a beggar you will never remind a gentleman what he owes you.—

Your affect Father | C. D.

1
The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from W. E. Darwin, 16 September 1880.
2
No other references to CD’s wrist complaint have been found. For advice on putting the bands on and their cost, see the letter from W. E. Darwin, 16 September 1880. For the use of rubber bands fixed along the hand and forearm to relieve distortion of the digits and stiffness of the joints resulting from injuries to the nerves, see Annandale 1865, p. 212.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12383,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12383